Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 41

DETROIT FREE PRESS Wi-cliiosdriv, April 7. '71 I New-Look i-te'V x. vt. JT 4fc 4 is-, Indian 8-2 Bill Freehan (left) demonstrates the new hittin', runnin' Tiger brand of baseball by leveling Indian second baseman Eddie Leon to break up a double play, allowing Detroit to score the first run IV of the game. Free Press Photo bv ED HAUN FlllinW all Till 7li iA Wl)ilniif rl AilfeiAllirfJ'iifflrii tiiinit 4iinuif dvnl il ntm Hi ill l-mji "ifiify-tf i-'-hiii i i BY JIM HAWKINS Fret Press Sports Writer Detroit got its first glimpse of its "new-look" Tigers Tuesday and for one day, anyway, they were everything that anyone had hoped for.

Pitching problems? What pitching problems? Mickey Lolich, the Tigers' opening day ace who hadn't lasted lunger than six innings in any start this spring, threw nine strong ones at the Cleveland Indians as the Tigers coasted to an easy 8-2 triumph. Cold weather? What.cold weather? Anxious to see for themselves what sort of miracle Billy Martin had worked on their Tigers, 54,089 optimistic but somewhat skeptical fans filled Tiger Stadium as it has never been filled before on opening day. Indian second baseman Eddie Leon to break up an easy double play while Aurelio Rodriguez was crossing the plate with the first Tiger run; Jim Northrup jumped up and down until Cleveland pitcher Charley Machemehl balked him home, and third base coach Joe Schultz almost wore out the hit-and-run sign. The left side of the infield started a couple timely double plays while three chicks in hot pants and one in a mini paraded around the park. No wonder nobody seemed to mind the fact that every drinking fountain in the joint was out of order.

As far as the 54,059 are concerned, they can stay that way all summer as long as the Tigers keep winning the way they did Tuesday. MARTIN. OF COURSE, took the whole thing in stride as if to say "I told you so." "Lolich did a tremendous job of pitching to the hitters where he wanted to," said Billy. "He was very sharp all day. He let a And what was that Mayo Smith said about Detroit baseball fans and Japanese BY ACTUAL TURNSTILE count, Billy's debut was bigger than the '68 Series bigger than Denny McLain's return bigger than Al Kaline Day bigger than any game played In the Michigan Avenue ballyard since a twi-night doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox in 1961 attracted 57,271.

And the fans, skeptical at first, were nothing short of optimistic when the time finally came to roll up their blankets and put away their empty flasks. Who could blame them? For three ruddy hours Tuesday, the Tigers were everything Martin had promised they would be and maybe even a little bit more. Bill Freehan, bad back and all, threw a cross-body block into couple pitches get away from him, but other than that he did everything he wanted to do." Lolich, likewise, was understandably pleased with his own performance which was even better than his spfing training showings had indicated it might be. "The weather was a little cold out there, even for me," admitted Mickey, who usually does his best on long-underwear days. "The ball was real slippery and I had trouble getting my breaking ball over." Lolich allowed the Indians just six hits while out eight and walking only one.

What may have been even more significant, though, in liht of the Tigers' severe pitching shortage, was the fact that Mickey was able to make 126 pitches without struggling which was 4fi more than he threw in any one outing during the exhibition season. Mick Shrugs Off Cold Weather THE TIGERS jumped on Cleveland starter Steve Har gan for two runs in the secont inning. Rodriguez was hit by pitch, Freehan singled sending Turne to Page 4D, Column 4 WWV TV-1 CLEVELAND ao di Brown ss 3 110 4 0 2 0 Billy's Tigers: Quite a Show Netties 30 Foster l( 4 0 11 OETROIT MAuliHe 2b 2 1 1 Kaline rf .411 Northrup lb 4 1 WHorton II 4 13 ARodrqez 3b 3 1 I Freehan 3 0 1 Stanley cf .321 Brnkman ss. 3 0 1 Lolich 3 0 1 4 0 0 0 posse Hsrrelson lb 4 0 0 0 Leon 2b 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 110 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 11 Ford rt Bradlord cf Harqan Machmhl Dunning Hodqe Pascual Camilli ph 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 BY JACK SAYLOR Free Press Sports Writer Mickey Lolich has lost his pizza business, his motorcycle business and two courtesy cars, but he hasn't lost his opening day touch. The Mick's solid performance against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday left him with a 4-0 record in openers, the best in Tiger history.

Lolich spaced six hits and struck out eight batters against a lone walk in leaving the Indians flatter than a pizza if Mickey will excuse the expression. BACKED against the wall at his corner locker by a clutch of writers, the 30-year-old Tiger lefty allowed that, yes, there was something special about Opening Day. "I look forward to the opener," he said. "There are butterflies and it's always good to get the first game behind you. "I remember 1966 we were in Houston waiting to go to New York for the opener.

It was going to be one of two guys starting myself or Phil Regan, I think, depending on who New York would use. "They held off announcing and I was really flustered that night. The sitting around and waiting is tough." THE ONLY thing tough about sitting around Tuesday was the weather. Ten million Frenchmen, 54,089 Tiger fans and Mickey Lolich can't be wrong. It was cold and that's Lolich weather, isn't it? "Cool, not cold," Mickey corrected.

"I like it about 60 degrees 40 is ridiculous." But Lolich and the Tigers had the remedy for this, too. "We had a big space heater in the tunnel behind the dugout to warm up by between innings," he said. "It was really hot I'd be sweating when I came back out on the field. "It wasn't that bad keeping warm the hardest part was getting loose at the start of the inning." Lolich didn't have trouble warming up Turn to Page 4D, Column 1 Lamb 0 0 0 8 Austin 0 0 0 0 Total 32 2 6 2 Total 2 8 9 Cleveland 000 110 000- Detroit 022 300 tlx- Northrup DP Detroit .2. LOT Cleveland .4, Detroit 7.

2B W.Hurti Nettles. 3B R.Foster, Northr Bradlord. SB McAulifte. Lolich. Harqan (L.0-1) .2 4 4 .4.2 Machemehl 1 2.3.3.4 Dunning .1 0 0 .0 0 Pascual 3 .1.0.0.0 Lamb 23 .2 .1 .1 .1 Austin 1-3 .0.0.0 0 Lolich .9 6 2 2 .1 MB bv Harcian (A.Rodriquez).

Wl Hargan, Lamb. Balk Machemehl. 2:44. Can the Orioles ever catch them? That seems to be the only question left for the Tigers in this 1971 baseball season. They've already overcome their biggest obstacle gaining the forgiveness of the fans for the inexcuse-able way they quit on the town last season.

Our folks not only were quite willing to forgive but they were willing to forget what happened last season, as a record throng of 54,089 turned out for Tuesday's opener. Imagine that 54,089. The largest opening day crowd In Detroit history. And on a day when it was a biting 46 degrees and people were wearing overcoats and mittens and boots and gloves and cold pants. No way could those four gals have been parading around in hot pants.

It was a day more suited for duck hunting but they packed every corner of the old ball park. Not even Denny in all his glory drew this many people in his triumphant return to the baseball wars last July 1. In fact, no Tiger team since 1961 not even the '68 champs-drew this many people for one ball game. Even 18 guys showed up In the radio booth, with nine of them hanging around until the end for only a 50 percent mortality rate. That was another record.

Why? What was the reason for this tremendous turnout? Why would so many people venture forth on such a chilly day to see a fourth-place ball club play a fifth-place ball club on April The answer can he listed in three words and they're not 'I love you." They're 'Alfred Manuel Martin." Maybe they're synonymous, though. Tigers Convinced 'Em They came out to see if it was true what they'd heard about Billy's ball club that it was indeed a new type of Tiger team, a team that played aggressively, a team that took chances, a team that ran and forced mistakes a team, in short, that was exciting to watch. They came, they saw and they were convinced. The Tigers put on quite a show in beating the Indians, 8-2. They were so convincing that it was almost unexciting.

They simply ran over the Indians and it was all over by the fourth inning. The whole thing produced a very giddy atmosphere as if baseball suddenly was fun again. Pour gals in short shorts paraded around the stands, creating havoc wherever they went, while another gal did a tap dance on top of the Cleveland dugout. In fact, the folks were so taken by the moment that Van "4- htta1 I 1 AP Photo Fiery Tiger manager Billy Martin plots first game strategy with veteran catcher Bill Freehan. Big Hits Knicks Win Fret Press Wirt Services NEW YORK Dave DeBusschere broke loose for three clutch baskets in the final minutes, then Willie Reed hit a decisive jumper with six seconds left Tuesday night, boosting the New York Knicks to a 112-111 victory over the ailing, but stubborn Baltimore Bullets in a National Basketball Associa Patrick was being beseiged for more autographs than the Mayor of the City of Detroit, the 1 Ion.

Roman S. Gribbs. "I guess," said catcher Jim Price after it was all over, "the fans believed all those nice things I said about Martin this spring." Actually, Tuesday's turnout was the culmination of the biggest selling job this town has seen since Henry Ford convinced the economists he could pay his employes as much as five dollars a day and still turn a nice profit for himself. Martin sold his players on his style of play, the players sold the press on Martin's style of manager and the fans bought it all- Wjat happens from now on is anybody's guess. But the Tigers are off to a financially fantastic start.

You could even see the leer on general manger Jim Campbell's face as he saw all those bleacher seats fill up an hour before the game. Martin brags to friends that he is making twice as much in Detroit as he did in Minnesota something like $65,000 as compared to $35,0110. Whatever he is getting, he earned most of it in one day. tion playoff game. Reed's 15-foot jumper pro NEW YORK vided the ncedd cushion for the Knicks, since Jack Marin's basket with two seconds left BALTIMORE Marin 8 7-8 Trpsvant 2 0-1 Unsold 2 3 23 Bradlev 7 11 They Played as a Team pulled Baltimore within one point of New York.

Monroe It 7-9 Louqhery 8 6-7 Carter 7 5-7 4 DBuschrt 9 3 4 31 14 Reed 8 2-7 18 29 Frailer 7 10 12 24 22 Barnelt SI 19 19 Russell 2 4 4 0 Riordan 2 0 0 4 0 Stallworth 1 1-2 3 Price 0 0 0 0 The victory gave the Knicks zeiier" a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Totals 43 26-33 112 25 34 24111 28 28 26-112 Totals 42 27-36 111 Baltimore 28 New York 30 Total Fouls: Baltimore 23, New York 26. He never once went to the mound, and never got higher than the top step of the dugout. But he simply had to be responsible for the massive flow of humanity through the turnstiles. "I'll tell you, it was a different feeling," Price said. "Even the pitchers in the bullpen were talking about it.

When they got up to pitch, nobody was ragging them." Price smiled. "And they didn't boo the bullpen catcher when he got up," he added. The Tigers played witli a purpose that hasn't been seen around here in a long while. Martin's promises that his club would play aggressively were not idle promises. The very best thing you can say about them is that they performed as a team.

"The fans don't care about our individual performances they just want us to win," said Al Kaline. Uf course, the club got strong pitching from Mickey Lolich and when your pitching is sound, everything else falls in place. When you are ahead, you can play aggressive baseball. It might be different in the days ahead, when Martin has to Turn to Page 4D, Column 1 Eastern Conference finals, with the second game set for Friday afternoon, again in Madison Square Garden. Baltimore, which protested the game because of an alleged 24-second violation by the Knicks, held a 102-101 lead with 3:50 remaining when DeBusschere suddenly got hot.

His tip-in provided the 24th change in the lead in the second half and put the Knicks ahead to stay, 103-102. Seconds later he added a hook shot, then a minute later a jumper for a 108-105 spread. shots for the Bullets cut the lead to one point, but Frazier recaptured the three-point margin with a spinning layup with 59 seconds to go. Monroe, who had a game-high 29 points, then dropped in two foul shots which left Baltimore trailing, 110-109, before Reed scored his clutch basket for a 112-109 lead. Marin then scored with two Ties of Qiana5 nylon.

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